In recent years, the revitalization of urban city centers has caught fire. Developing from that trend is the idea that urban city centers should have vibrant open space for all to enjoy.

Downtown Durham is in the midst of a renaissance, and one of the many reasons why it is desirable for people to live, work, and play downtown is its dedicated open space. With the help of thousands of volunteers and tremendous support from local businesses and nonprofits Durham has a vibrant Durham Central Park (DCP), which has become the envy of cities near and far.

DCP is a wonderful asset to the Durham community, but its vision is not complete. In order to keep DCP the coolest park in the Triangle, we need community support. The park is selling 300 raffle tickets at $10 a piece and the winner gets to hold a custom private event at the farmer’s market pavilion anytime in 2013.

I wanted to let the community, and especially local businesses and nonprofits, know about this great fundraiser. If someone is looking for a party venue for a large group then this raffle is for them. The prize also includes two hours of DJ-ing from DJ Piddipat, flowers from the famer’s market, which can be used to make table centerpieces, and a post-party clean up crew. Hold a family reunion, company party, get married, have a product launch, throw a birthday party – whatever kind of event you want, you can have!

This prize represents an incredible value (>$1,000) and the proceeds will help fund park developments to help keep this downtown park the coolest place in the Triangle. To purchase tickets please visit: durhamcentralpark.org/events/pavilion-raffle/

The drawing is Dec 1 at the farmer’s market, so don’t hesitate to make your purchase.

Jody White

Durham Central Park volunteer

Learn about Ruritan life

The Bahama Ruritan Club will soon complete its 65th year. This local community service organization is among the top 5 percent of all national Ruritan clubs in the U.S. regarding its hours of service, membership and fundraising efforts.

Major events this year included supporting the annual Bahama Fire Department Barbeque and Stew, a sausage and pancake breakfast providing resources for a local cub scout troop, a Ruritan family barbeque event, a series of spaghetti dinner fundraisers, the annual education college scholarship award, and sponsorship of a local Boy Scout troop. We showed patriotic awareness by the display of flags during each of the major holidays and during periods of national mourning.

A major new event the Ruritans supported this year was Bahama Day, a community-focused celebration of rural life. A wide variety of invited speakers was present at each of the monthly Club meetings representing business, sports, civic, and other topics of interest to the membership. In addition, the club maintained and made available to the public its property for scores of weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and civic events. The Bahama Ruritan Club and the efforts to serve the community are widely recognized as being of the finest representation of community service.

The club invites local citizens to learn more about the Ruritan life and becoming members by visiting our website ( Bahama-Ruritan.org). Events recently completed or scheduled for the remainder of 2012 include the annual Ruritan Barbeque and Stew Fund Raiser and the annual Bahama Ruritan Christmas Parade in December as well as the Christmas Banquet and member recognition event.

Ron Williams

Bahama Ruritan Club

A moral obligation

I am very happy to hear that Durham County has made an agreement with Animal-Kind organization about sterilization of the cats and dogs in our county.

I agree with everything that Bob Wilson said in his commentary (DN, Nov. 18). I especially support his thought that we, humans, have a responsibility and moral obligation to take care of domesticated animals that became our pets. Their well-being and lives depend on us, our kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness.

Let’s hope that the new initiative will become a success in our county.

Elena Eliseeva

Durham

$86K for Alzheimer’s

Close to 1,000 Triangle-area residents joined the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Sept. 15 and united in a movement to reclaim the future for millions. Participants raised more than $86,000 to date to fund Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs.

I was inspired by so many people uniting in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease at Walk to End Alzheimer’s. With funds raised, the Alzheimer’s Association will be able to provide much needed care and support to people affected by the disease as well as fund critical Alzheimer’s research.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s participants did more than complete the 1.2 mile walk; moreover, they learned about Alzheimer’s disease and the association’s critical role in the fight against it. This included information on Alzheimer’s research and current clinical trials, and how to become involved in advocacy. The event also included an emotional tribute to those who have experienced or are experiencing Alzheimer’s.

Donations are accepted for Walk to End Alzheimer’s until Dec. 31. The Alzheimer’s Association encourages individuals to visit alz.org to learn more about the organization and to help reach the goal of $100,000 for this area’s walk event.

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today’s estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s. In North Carolina alone, there are 200,000 people living with Alzheimer’s.

Lisa Roberts

Executive Officer

Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina